Presidential election campaigns in the Philippines kick off – six candidates get ready

The countdown has started for the 2016 Philippine elections slated for May 9, with six candidates for the highest post in the state getting ready for their campaigns. While there were more than 130 people filing their application to run in the polls with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippinesâ€™ election body, the commission narrowed the list to only six candidates.

Contenders are current Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party, Senator Grace Poe as an independent candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippine Democratic Party-People’s Power (PDP Laban), Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago of the Peopleâ€™s Reform Party and lawyer Apolonia Comia-Soguilon of the Workers’ and Farmers’ Party (PMM) who replaced initial PMM candidate Roy SeĂ±eres who withdraw his candidacy on February 5 and died three days later of cardiac arrest.

(Update: Apolonia Comia-Soguilon’s candidacy was rejected by the election commission on February 18 for formal reasons. Her name will remain on the ballot, though, as the commission said it does not want to reprint more than 56.7 million ballot cards.)

Comelec declared that the 90-day campaign period for the election starts on February 9. At least Roxas and Duterte wre expected to kick off their respective drive on that day.

In a latest survey, Grace Poe maintained her lead over other presidential bets while Binay and Roxas were tied at the second place. Poe got 29 per cent, a 1-per cent increase from her December rating, while the other two shared a 22-per cent rating.Â Duterte came in fourth with 20 per cent, while Santiago was far behind at fifth place with two per cent. Other polls showed similar results, with Poe in the lead and the other three competing for second to fourth place.

The countdown has started for the 2016 Philippine elections slated for May 9, with six candidates for the highest post in the state getting ready for their campaigns. While there were more than 130 people filing their application to run in the polls with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the Philippinesâ€™ election body, the commission narrowed the list to only six candidates.

Contenders are current Vice President Jejomar Binay of the United Nationalist Alliance, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party, Senator Grace Poe as an independent candidate, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippine Democratic Party-People’s Power (PDP Laban), Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago of the Peopleâ€™s Reform Party and lawyer Apolonia Comia-Soguilon of the Workers’ and Farmers’ Party (PMM) who replaced initial PMM candidate Roy SeĂ±eres who withdraw his candidacy on February 5 and died three days later of cardiac arrest.

(Update: Apolonia Comia-Soguilon’s candidacy was rejected by the election commission on February 18 for formal reasons. Her name will remain on the ballot, though, as the commission said it does not want to reprint more than 56.7 million ballot cards.)

Comelec declared that the 90-day campaign period for the election starts on February 9. At least Roxas and Duterte wre expected to kick off their respective drive on that day.

In a latest survey, Grace Poe maintained her lead over other presidential bets while Binay and Roxas were tied at the second place. Poe got 29 per cent, a 1-per cent increase from her December rating, while the other two shared a 22-per cent rating.Â Duterte came in fourth with 20 per cent, while Santiago was far behind at fifth place with two per cent. Other polls showed similar results, with Poe in the lead and the other three competing for second to fourth place.